Blade wheel with movable blade



E. SCHNEIDER ET AL BLADE WHEEL WITH MOVABLE BLADE Sept. 15, 1931.

Filed Aug. 9, 1928 a e6 2 Z iJ w .7 .Q

\faZann Krez'ner Patented Sept. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlC-EERNST SCHNEIDER, OI AND JOSEF EHltHAB-T AND J CHAN N KREITNER, OF ST.

POLT'EN, NEAR VIENNA, AUSTRIA, ASSIGNORS TO 3'. M. VOITH, OF HEI[DENHEIM- ON-THE-BRENZ, GERMANY, A- CORPORATIONOF GERMANY BLADE WHEELWITH. MOVABLE BLADE Application filed August 9, 1928, Serial No.298,463, and in Austria- August 1i, 1927.

This invention relates generally to a power drive mechanism and has forits object the provision of an improved unit of this character which hasimproved controllin means,

the invention being in the nature 0 an imindividually and independentlyduring the rotation of the wheel, the invention further relating to aconstruction and arrangement in which an individual power unit isprovided for each of the blades upon the blade wheel, so as to permitthe operation of each.

blade with the relative motion desired, and to control it in accordancewith the working conditions encountered and results to be attained.

In carrying out our invention the power units are combined with thewheel body to turn therewith and are arranged to operate the bladesdirectly; and in accordance with our invention the power units for suchpurpose may consist either of electric motors, or of motors adapted tobe operated by gases or liquids under pressure.

A further object of our invention is the provision of a simple, compact,self-contained power drive mechanism of the character described and forthe purpose set forth, one in which the operation of the blades can beregulated and controlled without the use of troublesome compensatingdevices such as sprockets, gearing, eccentric discs, and similarmechanical transmitting devices conventionally employed for suchpurpose.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists inthe improve power drive mechanism and in the form,/construction,relative arrangement or arrangements of its parts, as will behereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and subsequently incorporated in the sub-joined claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a material part of this application, andin which:

Fig. 1 represents a central cross section through a wheel body providedwith blades and individual electric motors for the blades Fig. 2represents a central cross section through a hydraulic motor withelectric control and compensating means;

Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are detail views taken,

respectively, on the lines A B, CD, E F, G-H, of Fig. 2;

Flg. 7 represents a diagrammatic view showing a modified form ofconstruction,

including a primary and secondary wheeldrive and connecting means forsynchronizing the operation of the same; and

ig. 8 represents a diagrammatic view showing a modified construction forsynchronizing the operation of the primary and secondary wheel devices.

companying drawings, and first to the ex- Wi h more partlcular referenceto the acemplificatiori shown n Fig. 1, it will be seen that the wheelbody 7 is equipped with six blades, of which only blades 1 and '2situated in the plane of the section and blades 3 and 4 situated behindthe plane of the section are Visible. The mobility of the blades withthis wheel consists in that each blade may be turned round an axisparallel to the wheel axis. Blade 3 for instance may be turned roundaxis 56. The electric motors 8 are fastened to the wheel body 7, andtheir movable parts are connected with the blades.

These motors may be made to operate the blades With auniform revolution,with. an uneven rotation or with a swinglng motion,

according to their inner construction and the momentary course of thesupplied elec-' trical current. The current is supplied to the motorsover cable 9, slip-rings 10, and brushes 11, through a cable'12 whichleads to the generator, not shown in the drawings,v

18 and 19 are formed. Cylinder chambersbilities for realizing theinvention.

18 and 19 are connected by' channels 20 and 21 and by clearances in arotary valve 22 with pipes 23 and 24 through which the pressure liquidis supplied and discharged. Rotary valve 22 is controlled by rotatingmagnet 25, the momentary position of which depends upon the electricalexcitation of field-magnets 26. By cable 27 the field-magnets areconnected with the electric control. If rotary magnet 25 turns under theinfluence of the control rotary valve .22- opens clearances 20 and 21 insuch manner that one side of the cylinder gets into communication withthe supply pipe. and the other with the discharge ipe.

The pressure di erence is acting now on piston 15 and turns the stem 14with the blade in the same direction and by the same angle by whichrotary magnet 25 had turned. The stem 14 having covered this angle themutual position of the clearances in the rotary valve and in stem 14 isagain the same as before the beginning of the movement, that means thecurrent is interrupted and the movement efinished. This motor thus has acompensating device whereby the movement of the blade becomes an exactcopy of the movement of the rotary magnet.

The arrangements shown in the drawings represent two optional examplesof .possri e could indicate a great number of other arrangements, with adifferent osition of the blades to the wheel and di erent relativemovements, and further with motors and controldevices totally differentfront the two examples shown which are deemed sufficient to illustrate apractical application of the idea of the invention.

In Fig. 7 we show a synchronizing rocess whereby, duringthe operation othe blade wheel, each blade motor temporarily receives an impulse whichtends to bring the blade in a certain position; the release of thisimpulse from the primary machine, which belongs to this blade motor, orgenerally from theenergy source or from the control device, isautomatically done only when the primary machine is in a position which,corresponds to the above named blade position.

Reference character 28 (Fig. 7') denotes the primary'machine and 29 thesecondary machine (blade motor) and both machines are supposed as rotarypiston machines. .The primary machine 28 essentially consists of may bemoved to and fro by any suitable I means, for instance by a link bar 38.

If both casings 30 and 33 and pipings 36 and 37 are filled with apressure liquid the pressure rise produced on the left side of themachine with the rotary piston swung to the left is communicated-bypiping 36 to the right side of secondary machme 29 whereby rotary pistonof the secondary machine is swung to the left, that is to say in thesame direction as the rotar iston of the primary machine. The liquiddisplaced from the left side of the secondary machine flows throughpiping 37 to the right. side of the primary machine.

If now by any leakages or through other occurrences the exactsynchronism of the two rotary pistons 32 and 35 becomes deranged, itwill be automatically re-established and this may be done in thefollowing manner:

At the axis of. rotary piston 35 of the secondary machine an arm 39 isarranged at the end of which is a head 40 situated between the stops 41of rods 42 which slide in their longitudinal direction and are loaded bysprings 43 in such a manner that the stops 4lare pressed against head 40of arm 39. The outer ends of rods 42 are provided behind the gearings 44with stops 45 limiting the movement of rods 42 in the direction of head40, so that" when the head 40 isin the middle position the springs 43 donot exert any pressure on it.

Casing 30 of the primary machinehas a canal 46 which, when rotary piston32 is in the middle position, connects the right and left side of thecasing with each other so that in this middle position an equalizationof pressure between the two piston sides may take place. often as rotarypiston 32 of the primary machine reaches this middle position bothpiston sides are temporarily connected with each other and the one-sidedpressure exerted on secondary piston 32 temporarily will cease so that,if in this moment rotary piston 35 should be in one or the other direction outside of its middle position, one of the two springs 43 can bringarm 39 and thus also rotary piston 35 into the middle position.

' .However'the rotary (piston 32 of the primary machine shuts own atonce again Therefore as pressure equalizing canal 46 forcing thesecondary piston 35 to move in the same direc-' tion.- The describedarrangement has only the efi'ect that with every movement to and fro,as, often as the primary piston arrives in its middle position, thewrong position of the secondary piston is corrected. In Fig. 8 theprimary machine 47 and secondary machine 59 are developedas rotarypiston machines and also in this case the side on the left of rotarypiston 48 of the primary machine is connected by piping 49 with the sideon the right of rotary piston-'50 of the secondary machine, and theright side of the primary machine with the left side of the secondarymachine by pi ing 51. The trunnion of rotary piston 50 o the secondarymachine is hollow and has two openings 52, of which each is situated onone side of piston 50. Inside of the hollow trunnion a rotary valve 53has been arranged having, two canals 54 and 55 and between them abridge. This bridge normally closes the two openings 52' of the pistontrunnion; canal 54 isconnected through piping 56 (shown in dash-dottedlines) with a pressure-liquid tank (perhaps an air tank of a liquidpump) and canal 55 through piping 57 (shown in dash-dotted lines) withthe discharge. Rotary valve 53, is'connected with the trunnion of rotarypiston 48 of the primar machine by a gearing 58 in such a manner t atrotary valve 53 moves exactly like rotary piston 48.

As long as a perfect synchronism exists between the two rotary pistons48 and 50 no relative displacement will occur between rotary valve 53and rotary piston 50 of the secondary machine, because rotary valve 53as shown by the example through rods 58 follows forcibly the movementsof rotary piston 48 so that with perfect synchronism openings 52 remainalways closed, and be cause rotary valve 53 and rotary piston 50 aremoving quite in the same way. Should, however, the movement of rotarypiston 50 fail to synchronize when the movement of rotary valve 53 oneof the openings 52 is put into communication with canal 54 and the otherone with canal 55 thus causingthe correction. If for instance rotarypiston 50 remains back when rotary piston 48 moves to the left canal 54will come into communication with the right handed 0 ening 52 and thuswith the right side 0 the secondary machine, and the pressure liquidfrom piping 56 will exert its pressure on the right side of thesecondary machine in. such a manner that rotary piston 50 will receive acorrecting impulse. Canal 55 simultaner ously comes into communication"with the left handed opening 5220f the hollow trunnion and thereforepressureliquidcan discharge from the left side of the secondary machinethrough piping 57 into the open air thus allowing the synchronizingimpulse to be exerted without difiiculty. With the re-establishment ofsynchronism, the openings 52 are closed again. The more rotary piston 50remains back behind piston 48 and rotary valve 53, the greater becomesthe impulse, which has to re-establish the synchronism, and vice-versa,and this synchronizing im ulse will occur on every place of the way 0the piston wherever an asynchronism should occur, contrary to theproceeding shown by Fig. 7 where the correcting impulse can take placeonly at a determined place of the way, which place, it is true, can bechosen now optionally after the con structive execution of the device.

Figs. 7 and 8 only serve for explanation of the two above mentionedmethods, however it shall not be pretended that this synchronizingprocess maybe performed only with machines of the above mentioned typeand only with the indicated constructive means.

Claims.

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a rotarywheel body, of a. plurality of independently operable propeller blades,carried thereby and therewithmovable, and individual motor means for theblades supported by the wheel body, and connected with theblades foroperating the same direct] ,by the motor means and independently o theoperation of the wheel body. I

2. In a device of the character described, embodying a rotary wheelbody, a plurality of blades and of pistons carried by the wheel body,said pistons and blades being constructed and arranged to provide forthe direct operation of the blades by the pistons and independently ofthe operation of the wheel body, and means for operating the pistons.

3. In a device of the character described, embodying a rotary wheelbody, a plurality of blades and pistons carried by the Wheel body, saidpistons and blades being constructed and arranged to provide for thedirect operation of the blades by the pistons and independently of theoperation of the wheel body, rotaryvalves controlling the operation ofthe pistons, and means, including a rotary magnet, controlling theoperation of said valves.

4, In a device of the character described, embodying a rotary wheelbody, a plurality 1 of blades and pistons carried by the wheel body,said pistons and blades being constructed and arranged to provide forthe diof pressure fluid to the pistons, rotary valves relative positionas for "said ports and means for operating said valves.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a rotarybody in the form of a wheel member, a pluralit of electric motorsmounted to one side 0 the wheel member for rotation with the wheelmember, individual propeller blades for the -1 her opposite its motor,and with its projecting portion entirely exposed.

6. A device of the character described having, in combination. anoperative wheel member, a plurality of blades carried thereby forindependent operation, a rotary piston associated with each blade toprovide means for operating the same, together with a supply pipe forpressure liquid and a discharge pipe, a rotar valve controlling thesupply of pressure quid to the piston and also the discharge, and anelectric control for each valve.

7. A device of the character described having, in combination, anoperative wheel member, a plurality of blades carried thereby forindependent operation, a rotary piston associated with each blade toprovide means for operating the same, together with a supply pipe forpressure liquid and a discharge pipe, a rotar valve controlling thesupply of pressure liquid to the piston and also the discharge, a magnetcontrol for each valve, each magnet being connected with the valvecontrolled thereby to actuate the valve and hence cause actuation of theassociated blade substantially in movement with the magnet.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a rotarywheel body, of a plurality of independently operable propeller blades,carried thereby and therewith movable in an orbit, individual motormeans for the blades supported by the wheelbody, and connected with theblades for operating the same directly by the motor means andindependently of the operation -of the wheel body, and meansforactuating the motor means, to give each blade the same it passes thesame point on the orbit.

9. In a blade wheel, the combination of a plurality of blades onefollowing the other I around on an orbit and having their axes" 9;substantially parallel with each other and "'With the axis of the orbit,said blades also being swingable individually on their axes,individualmotor means directly connected with the blades for swingingeach blade on its axis, and means for actuating the mosubstantiallyparallel with eac -while the blades move on the orbit.

10. In a blade wheel, the combination of a plurality of blades onefollowing the other around on an orbit and having their axes with theaxis of the orbit, said blades also being swingable individually ontheir axes,

other and individual motor means directly connected with theblades forswinging each blade on its axis, means for actuating the motor means toswing the blades on their axes while the blades move on the orbit,relative movable control means separate from the blades, and means fortransmitting the movement of the control means to the motor means,whereby the movement of the control means moves the blades insynchronism therewith.-

11. In ablade wheel, the combination of a plurality of blades onefollowing the other around on an orbit and having their axessubstantially parallel with each other and with the axis of the orbit,said bladesalso being swingable individually on'their axes,

individual motor means directly connectedwith the blades forswinging'each blade on its axis, means for actuating the motor means toswing the blades on their axes while the blades move on the orbit,relative movable control means separate from the blades,

means for transmitting the movement of.

the control means to the motor operating means whereby the relativemovement of which control means moves the blades in synchronismtherewith for controlling the movement of the blades, and means forcorrecting any asynchronism between the control means and the motoractuating means.

12. In a blade wheel, the combination of a plurality of blades, onefollowing the other aroundon an orbit and having their axessubstantially parallel with each other and with the axis-of the orbit,said blades also being swingable individually on' their axes, individualmotor means directly connected with the blades for swinging each bladeon its axis, means for actuating the motormeans to swing the bladesontheir axes while the blades move on the orbit,a piston valve,' a'

second piston valve, each havin cylinders,

and actuating-fluid pipes connecting the cylinders of the piston valves,for conveying the operating fluid, each lpipe connecting one side ofone cylinder wit the alternate side of the. other cylinder, whereby theoperation of the first piston valve moves the second piston valve insynchronism-therewith. I a

.13. In a blade-wheeh-the combination of --a plurality of blades, onefollowing the other around on an orbit and having their axessubstantially parallel with-each other and i with the-axis of the.orbit, said blades-also swingable'individually on their'axes, -md1 v1dual m0t0r means directly connected I with the blades for swinging eachblade on its axis, means for actuating the motor means to swing theblades on their axes while the blades move on the orbit, a piston valve,a second piston valve, each having cylinders and pipes connecting thecylinders of the piston valves for conveying the operating fluid, eachpipe connecting one side of one cylinder with the alternate side of theother cylinder, whereby the opera tion of the first piston Valve movesthe second piston valve in synchronism therewith, a by-pass in onecylinder, and a checking device operated by the.other cylinder, whereby,upon the. movement of the piston valves in asynchronism, compensation inthe operating fluid takes place to bring the movement of the pistonvalves into synchronism.

In testimony whereof We afiix our signatures ERNST SCHNEIDER. JOSEFEHRHART.

J OHANN KREITNER.

